Dalton's Seth Wyckoff will do whatever it takes to win.
He's proven that during his high school athletic career, no matter what his role is.
It's a big part of why he was selected as one of the eight Roy S. Bates Scholarship winners, presented annually to some of the best student athletes in Wayne County by the Bates Foundation.
On the baseball field, Wyckoff has been a star for the Bulldogs, taking over as their ace last season as a junior. Since his breakout year in 2023, he's been one of the best pitchers in the Wayne/Holmes area, leading the 'Dawgs to a share of the Wayne County Athletic League title last year and helping them win seven of their last 10 games heading into this year's postseason.
He was always a good player growing up, but he took a leap during his high school years once he really started honing his craft.
"I started focusing on baseball more," Wyckoff said about his breakout as a pitcher. "I started taking pitching lessons throughout the entire year. It became more serious, and I started caring about baseball more. It helped a lot."
On the football field, Wyckoff didn't see the field much but instead of giving up the sport, he focused on being a good teammate, helping Dalton prepare in practices the best he could. Making them better even if it didn't mean significant contributions on Friday nights.
"Obviously, I wasn't making all the plays on the field but I was helping my team wherever I could, preparing for the week and doing whatever they needed me to do to help them out," Wyckoff said. "... It's what we needed, so it's just what I did."
It paid off in being a part of Dalton's best football season ever, as it rolled through the playoffs to win its first regional title in program history and played for a state championship for the first time.
"It was incredible," Wyckoff said. "Just walking into the Hall of Fame Stadium was amazing. It's always fun to play games like that — big games that really matter."
No matter what he's participating in, Wyckoff's competitive fire is obvious. When he pitches, not only does he believe he's going to win, but Dalton's teammates gain extra confidence with him on the mound.
"Seth just has that inner fire," Dalton baseball coach Scott Huth said. "He's determined he's going to succeed. He's always been that way. He doesn't lack confidence at all."
Growing up in Dalton, playing in front of a community that rallied around its high school teams is something Wyckoff will remember long after graduation.
"The community in Dalton is really special," Wyckoff said. "You could really see it during our football run. The community came out and supported us every week."
Beyond the victories and hard work lies a simple joy for Wyckoff that should never be taken for granted by high school athletes.
"My favorite thing from playing (sports) in high school, is just getting to play with all my friends," Wyckoff said. "Growing up playing baseball with them, then in high school it's been even more fun."
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